By Lewis S. Teh
MONROVIA, July 25, 2026 — The National Port Authority (NPA) has announced the immediate transition of all contract workers to permanent employee status, describing the decision as a major workforce reform intended to improve job security and staff morale.
The announcement was made during a general workforce meeting at the Freeport of Monrovia, presided over by Deputy Managing Director for Administration James R. Bernard. Managing Director Sekou A. M. Dukuly participated virtually from the Port of Le Havre, France.
Dukuly thanked employees for their dedication, resilience and service to the institution, saying the NPA’s performance depends on its workforce.
“The success of the National Port Authority is built upon the commitment of its workforce,” Dukuly said. “Without the workforce, there will be no National Port Authority.”
According to him, successive administrations struggled for years to transition contract workers to permanent status, leaving many employees working for extended periods without the benefits and job security afforded regular staff.
“Regularizing contract workers to employee status therefore marks the end of an era and the beginning of a new chapter for hundreds of dedicated workers whose commitment to the institution has now been formally recognized,” he said.
Dukuly assured employees that the transition would not result in reductions or increases in their current salaries. He said existing salaries and benefits would remain unchanged, while the newly regularized workers would qualify for additional benefits available to permanent employees.
He also disclosed that future salary increases would be based on employee performance, with attendance, productivity and job performance playing significant roles in evaluations.
“Attendance and job performance will play a significant role in future evaluations,” Dukuly said, urging employees to maintain professionalism and improve productivity.
Management also announced plans to enforce the NPA’s 10-day attendance policy as part of efforts to strengthen workplace discipline and accountability.
Human Resources Executive Director Vashti Sirleaf warned that employees who report for work but fail to perform their assigned duties could face administrative action.
“Management remains committed to building a culture of discipline, accountability and high performance,” Sirleaf said.
NPA officials described the regularization exercise as one of the most significant workforce reforms in the institution’s history. They said the decision reflects management’s commitment to improving employee welfare while modernizing Liberia’s ports.
The authority said the move is expected to improve staff morale and workforce stability at the Freeport of Monrovia and other NPA facilities as it pursues reforms aimed at strengthening efficiency and service delivery.
